The water was cool as she stepped into the slow moving stream. She waded in a bit, the very bottoms of her rolled up pants getting wet. The mud squished between her toes in a pleasing way, and she tried to push her feet further down into it. She watched as the mud was stired up until she couldn't see her feet. She looked up at the trees around her and smiled. A bug flew past her ear, but she didn't even move like normal.

Today was not normal. No day was anymore. She looked down at her feet. The mud had settled. Her eyes closed as she tensed and kicked the mud off her feet as hard as she could into the nearest tree. The tree stood against the assalt with dignaty, with the light, sandy mud dripping off of it. The girl wiped her arms, and then her face clear of the water, only managing to smear it farther. It was grimy to her hands as there was some of that sandy mud in it.

A sigh escaped her and she tried to hide the rest of her anger. Moving from the cool sand to the hot dirt and rocks that hurt her feet didn't even make her wince. She was too tired. She sat next to her old shoes and socks in a patch of sun and let the ends her pants dry out. The sun made the top of her head feel hot to the touch and she pulled her deep red hair into a pony tail.

When she felt her jeans were dry she dusted the dirt of her feet as best she could and put her shoes and socks back on. She made a face as the dirt felt like it was rubbing her skin raw. She stood up and went back to the stream where she splashed some water over her hair to cool herself down. Her face felt flushed, not just because of the heat, but because of her state of mind.

Her thoughts had not been clear; even at her haven-her safe place- they had not become clear. Her only defence was to stop thinking... to let herself go. She let loose her hair, and let the long strands fall into the water. Her hair was her best feature, she was always told that. Looking into the reflective water she saw someone that she did not recognize. She raised her hand to kill the smoothness of the water when she heard a rustle in the bush. Immediately readied her body to fight, or to run if need be. She looked up, her hair around her like a wild flame. She looked like a wild animal, crouched low as she was, with her hair a tangle about her head.

Another snap of a twig, and she thrust her hand into the water, grasped a stone and threw it as hard as she could into the bushes. There was a rustle of leaves, a thump, and a moan as something fell out of the bush in a heap. After she had thrown the rock, the girl jumped behind a tree and peeked out at the person clutching his head. She felt a flush of anger.

"Peeping Tom!" She accused, reaching down to get another rock.

"Please! I am not..." The guy said, trying to crawl to his face, a red gash on his head. "Don't throw another one!"

She gripped the rock, holding it, ready to throw. "Then what were you doing in those bushes. Looking for Leprechauns?" Her hair was still a flame around her head, and with her arm now cocked to throw a fairly good size rock it was no wonder the guy started backing up.

"I am not a peeping Tom, I was lost, and I would not like to know who I am asking directions from." He looked somewhat nervous and touched his head again as she tossed the rock and caught it.

"Better thank your lucky stars that it was me. Anyone else would have probably kill you with the noise you were making."

"You almost did," He retorted angrily.

"A woman can't be to careful," She said almost icily.

"I am sure you can take care of yourself, but as for me, I am still lost and I would like to get out of here if you don't mind. I am sure you would love to get rid of me."

"Where are you trying to get to? And what are you doing here?" The rock was once again thrown again into the air and then caught, as if she was threatening him.

"Trying to get h... to my house." His slight stutter was noticed by the girl. She smiled knowingly.

"So you are trying to get back to a house that is not home." her hair fell around her face as she looked to the ground. "I know all about that" she said under her breath where she didn't think he could hear. At least he didn't respond to her in anyway, except to give a small nod of assent which she didn't even see.

"So," She continued, "That only leaves why you are here to begin with." She lifted her head and gave him a pointed look as if she was trying to read into his very soul. He shifted his weight from foot to foot and gently touched his head.

"Thats not the only thing it leaves," his voice seemed to get an irritated tone. "I want to know who you are." It was his turn to give a probing look. She stood still under his gaze.

"I am the person who might help you, so you had better be the one giving out information first."

"Fine, if you must know my name is Terrence, and I live at five hundred and four Lincoln Park Avenue. So if you want to stalk me or murder me or anything; well, there you go." His face gave away his annoyance.

"Ritzy place, Good thing I know how to get there. Show you the way if you want. It would be easier then you getting lost and getting hit in the head again." She shook her head to show her annoyance, and her hair became more wild looking, but strangely more attractive.

"I am sure that anyone else would just shoot me. But I am ready to go, if you still are going to take me."

"I'd wash some of that blood off before we go." It was driping off the side of his face onto his blue t-shirt. He touched the side of his face and made a face of disgust as he brought his hand away, covered with the thick red liquid. The side of his face was almost completly covered with it. "Looks like someone threw a rock at you."

"I wonder why that is," He said sarcastically as he moved to kneel next to the water. The water felt cool to the fevered skin around the open wound, and he managed to wash off most of the blood. He started to pull off his shirt.

"Do you mind?" he said as he stopped, looking at her. He gave a pointed look.

"Fine, fine..." She said as she made her way to a point where she couldn't see. She ran her fingers through her hair as she waited.

"I wonder who he is, and why he is here." She thought to herself as she untangled her hair. "Ah, he will be back, the forest is magic like that to those without homes... like me" She smiled to herself, but put on an unreadable mask as she heard him approaching.

"I am coming, don't throw a rock."